United Solar Ovonic Corp.

K-space Associates, Inc.

Greg DeMaggio

Ginger Pietka

Jonathan Call

Darryl Barlett

Charles A Taylor, Ii

Hellmut Fritzsche

Scott Hines

A method and apparatus for determining the synchronicity of a rotary platen () in a vacuum deposition chamber (). A light source () projects a highly collimated light beam () onto the rotating platen (), thereby tracing a circular swept path (). The swept path () passes alternately through samples () on the platen () and intervening webs (). The samples () are significantly more reflective than the webs (). The platen () includes an asymmetry feature () along the swept path (). A detector () measures light signals reflected from the platen () along the swept path (), and generates a unique signal upon encountering the asymmetry feature (). A microcontroller generates a trigger pulse synchronized to the unique signal.

Non-contact, optical sensor for synchronizing to free rotating sample platens with asymmetry

A method for passivating short circuit defects in a thin film large area photovoltaic device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is provided. The method employs a passivation agent and a counter electrode disposed in said passivation agent. The method includes controlling an application of current between the substrate of said photovoltaic device and said counter electrode so as to ensure high selectivity of modification of a transparent conductive oxide material of said photovoltaic module adjacent said short circuit defect, while leaving the transparent conductive oxide material of said photovoltaic module of non-defect areas in its unmodified form.

Higher selectivity, method for passivating short circuit current paths in semiconductor devices

Certain modifications and additions to the prior art short passivation technique have lead to improvements in the low light voltage of solar cells which are made using the improved passivation technique. Examples of the modifications include:

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Greg DeMaggio